BBMP plans to spend Rs 20 lakh on unused library, quarters

The civic body plans to spend Rs 20 lakh on an unused library and quarters that allegedly don’t belong to it

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, goes a wise saying. But the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) allegedly does not believe in this. It has reportedly earmarked Rs 20 lakh to renovate a library, which is barely six years old and has largely been under lock and key. Part of this budget will also go towards renovating quarters that residents of Kallahalli say do not belong to the BBMP. According to residents, there are other works that are crying out for renovation and the BBMP is ignoring them.

BBMP’s CV Raman Nagar Division Executive Engineer, on behalf of BBMP Commissioner, has floated a short-term tender on December 10, inviting bidders to take up 12 works at an estimated cost of around Rs 2.60 crore. The renovation of a library building and BBMP quarters at Kallahalli is one among these works. The BBMP has allocated Rs 20 lakh for the renovation of the library and its quarters.

However, residents are pointing out some key issues here behind what seems to be a sprucing up initiative.

According to Kalidasa Reddy, a resident of Kallahalli, “The library was constructed by our MLA, S Raghu, in 2012 but it was not used all these years. There was a proposal to start a tailoring unit (here) for the benefit of women but it remained on paper. There is no need to renovate this building. I am against wasting tax-payers’ money. Two years ago, our MLA had spent some money for refurbishing this building. Where is the need to spend money again on it?’’

The plaque on the building says the library was inaugurated in 2012

The building (ground + one floor) has remained closed for the last six years and has been opened only to conduct meetings on a few occasions, say the residents. “I don’t know why the BBMP wants to spend lakhs of rupees on this building instead of improving roads in the locality,’’ opines Babul Khanna, a resident.

The whole truth about quarters

According to the residents of Kallahalli, the BBMP did not construct quarters either for its employees or residents. They say that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) had constructed a shopping complex and around 400 residential apartments in 1987. While the BDA retained the shopping complex, the residential units were allotted to applicants. “All the residential apartments were sold to applicants by the BDA. There are no BBMP quarters here,’’ said Kalidasa Reddy.

When contacted, Executive Engineer M K Venkatesh said he was unaware of the BBMP quarters at Kallahalli. “Yes, a short-term tender has been floated inviting bidders for various works. I am not aware of the BBMP quarters at Kallahalli,’’ said Venkatesh.

The tender document of December 10

When told about name of the work (No. 7. Renovation of library and Kallahalli quarters in ward No. 79) in the short term tender notice, he said: “I will revert to you after contacting Assistant Executive Engineer A M Raja. You can also contact him for more information,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the assistant executive engineer has said the funds are meant for fencing the BBMP properties in the locality. “There are a few BBMP sites in the locality. We have to fence these properties to prevent encroachment,’’ he said.

However, Corporator Shashirekha Mukund said a portion of residential quarters need to be renovated. “The quarters are in a bad condition. A few people are trying to create confusion about the BBMP spending money on developmental works. We have to replace broken floor tiles and sanitary equipment at the library building,’’ she said.

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